—What are they talking about?
Jon sat watching the four people who were discussing something. Jon felt himself being ignored, he hated it.
Shortly after that, Jon, who was watching Zeta's face, himself felt very nostalgic, he felt if he had met Zeta somewhere. And that's when Jon remembered.
"Anne?"
Anne, Jon's childhood friend who Jon tried to find before.
—Her face is like Anne, but her character is very different from Anne, she is more barbaric *Zeta.
"...?!"
—I just remembered! Anne, I was looking for Anne, and for some reason... I suddenly felt dizzy, and ended up in this place. Am I dead? Am I reincarnated? Who knows.
Instantly Jon's body jolted slightly, his heartbeat suddenly thumped, his hands and feet slightly trembled after Jon very consciously saw that the four people who had just talked to him had very strange and frightening appearances.
After a long time Jon just realized it, even everyone in the bar had a look that was far from normal for him, he was really scared because he didn't know anything. The hunger Jon felt earlier completely blinded his sight.
—H-he… what kind of creature is he?!! No matter how you look, he's not human! The ears are weird, they all have different ears, what's with those animal ears?!! They even have long tails?!! Why does he have such thick body hair? And also is coloring hair normal in this place? Even my hair is white, where is this??! Am I still in the same world?!!!! Am I crazy?!! N-no! This must be a dream! Damn it.
Jon was completely taken aback, and quite the shock. Especially when Jon saw Fenrir's look so completely different from the first time he'd seen her, Jon couldn't imagine having to deal with creatures like them.
Jon who is known to be very strong and brave, suddenly felt a fear. However, Jon's fear is only limited to his ignorance of the world.
Jon was sneaking out without their knowledge. He ran non-stop until Jon arrived at the exit of the village.
"Ha ha ha ..."
Jon was breathing heavily, his hands holding his knees, he was completely exhausted.
"Hey, where are you going boy? It was getting late, go back to your house. Wait... you... you're the kid from this afternoon right? Where are you going? Are you trying to sneak out again? Go away boy! Go home, I don't want to deal with a lost child case. Go now!" Asked a gatekeeper who returned to see Jon for the second time in the same day.
"My... ha... I was just about to go home, my house is outside this village." Jon answered with his breath out of breath with his body still bent due to fatigue.
"...Outside the village?"
The guard was surprised, because after all there were no other places or buildings outside the village apart from the two roads leading to the other village.
One road leads to the village of Railis, a dead village which of course is no longer inhabited. And one more road to the village of Luvia which is located very far from the village of Balma. One takes six hours to get to Luvia village from Balma village, and that too by using a horse-drawn carriage.
Balma Village and Railis Village are two villages that can be said to be very remote, two villages that are located at the very end of the Merlin kingdom. Even though they are far from the capital city, these two villages are quite important for the Merlin kingdom.
"Yeah, my house is out there, my parents are there too. By the way, what is this place? Why do the people in the bar over there, have a strange look?"
"Strange? What's so strange?"
-Hah? ...Wait, could he also-
Jon lifted his head and saw clearly the appearance of the gatekeeper.
Big tall, wearing clothes like a viking, bald head, has a fairly thick beard, a grown man who looks old enough, and most importantly for Jon, he is a human being.
Jon sighed, feeling a bit calmer than before.
"Ha… I think, I'll-"
"Hey Boris! What's going on?"
"Oh Griz? Nothing, why are you here? Aren't you on guard outside?"
"Old man called me, I have to see him soon. What are you doing? Is there any problem?"
"I see. Nothing, nothing. He's just lost. Hey Griz, just go met the old man, I don't want to interfere with the old man's business."
"Yeah, I don't want to get angry either."
Jon froze, he couldn't move his body. Jon was really scared after seeing the appearance of another guard who had just arrived named Grizzy.
He is taller and bigger than Boris the guard who stopped Jon. He has the face and body of a bear, one of his ears is cut off leaving his left ear which also has the shape of a bear's ear. He also carries a fairly large sword on his back, as well as several iron armor he wears on his body.
Balma Village, a village that is also known as the village of fighters. A village that gave birth to great, and strong, fighter talents. Even so, the adventurer's guild in Balma village was the weakest guild among all the adventurer's guilds in the kingdom. Most of them choose to migrate out of town to get better and higher paid jobs rather than working in a guild in Balma village.
Although the guild in Balma village is considered the weakest guild, the adventurers in Balma guild cannot be underestimated, especially the X adventurer group, they are legends. Even the guards of Balma village are not just any guards, they are war veterans of their time.
Jon, who is known as the strongest school teenager, felt helpless seeing Grizzy's figure, apart from his physique, which of course was not a human. The aura he showed made Jon understand that he was not just any creature, he knew very well how strong and dangerous this creature was.
Shortly after, Zeta and Fenrir came after Jon and patted Jon on the back.
"Hey, where are you going? We already give you some food and you just go like that? You're only getting suspicious you know? Hey, are you hear me? Mer-"
"Fenrir..."
"God damn Zeta! Wait, Ze-zeta? How did you get here?" asked Fenrir who was surprised to see Zeta who had followed behind her without her knowledge.
Zeta elbowed Fenrir in the stomach intending to stop Fenrir from trying to say Merlin's name in front of the guards.
"Fenrir? Zetas? Oh you two! Do you know this boy?"
"Y-yes! He is with us."
"Are you guys….parents-"
"Of course not!"
"A-ahh.. then?"
"He's... our friend's son, huh!"
"O-oh is that so?"
"Yes."
"He was just about to sneak out, luckily I held him back. Even this afternoon he had done it. Please take care of him properly."
"Ahh yes… forgive us, anyway… we're going out with him too. He was too excited that we fell behind, you see..."
"Ahh I see, but… isn't it dangerous to go out at this time? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that of you. I don't know where you guys are going, it's none of my business, I'm sorry. Hey, there cil, don't go far from them, want to go anywhere as long as you go with them, you will be safe, I guarantee that."
—How strange, why do they look so relaxed?!!! Recently there was a very big bear that can walk, even talk!! And now, he... this damn dog! I didn't expect that if he was a being like this, how could a creature like him stand up and talk like a human! And also… the girl who looks like Anne, her ears are slightly longer and pointier than a human, what kind of creature is she?!! What kind of world is this?!!!
-
Merlin or Jon, Fenrir, and Zeta were standing outside the village of Balma not far from the entrance.
"Oi brat, don't tell me you want to return to Railis Village?" Fenrir asked.
"Railis Village? What are you talking about? I don't even know where it is, I just want to go home, meet my parents."
"Show me the way."
Jon pointed the way home.
Fenrir was slightly taken aback, the direction Jon pointed towards was the direction of the village of the dead, the village of Railis.
Jon's confidence as he pointed the way made Fenrir think of many things.
—He is Merlin, but... does he really live there? Is there any other life there? Apart from the monsters? No way, he's too suspicious? Does he intend to lure us? Is he going to do something with me and Zeta? Does he think we're weak? Hah? Does this brat think I'm weak? ... Why am I thinking this? He's too innocent, a child is really innocent. But the way he spoke and looked at adults, was really fishy, Fenrir thought.
"The path you pointed out, there's nothing there."
"Hah? This morning I was just from there, I swear. My parents live there, they are farmers, though… no… ah, forget it."
"Hey, do you really not know anything? Have you really lost your memory? Or are you just pretending? And trying to trick us? Hah?"
"Hey Fenrir, calm down! He's just a kid, you." Zeta was firm towards Fenrir who kept pressing Merlin.
-What?! Since from the bar, they were talking about this, this, that, I really don't get it?!! What is it? What really happened in that village? Who am I? Who is this kid?!! How do I know you bastard!!!!!!!!! Shit, I'm getting pissed off. Even if I told them the truth, would they believe it??
"Hey, I don't know what exactly you two are talking about, I really don't know anything about this world, all I know… this road was the only road I walked this morning. So, if you guys want to walk me home, I'd be happy to accept your help. If not, you don't have any right to keep me here. I don't know what you guys are talking about with that village over there, it's true... it's just me and my parents there, it's really like a hell. But still, I couldn't just leave my parents there. You understand?"
"Yeah, I'll take you home. Come on, we're following you from behind, you can go ahead."
"Okay."
"Zetas…"
"You shut the fuck up, Fenrir."
"My Bad."